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With all the models and celebrities that tout yoga as an essential part of their slimming exercise routine, you faithfully head to class in hopes of achieving a flat tummy. When included as part of a program that includes strength training, cardiovascular exercise and a healthy, portion-controlled diet, yoga can assist you in losing weight and decreasing bloat. Yoga alone, however, does not guarantee you will slim out your midsection.

Signficance

A bulging belly is not just unsightly, it's unhealthy. Too much belly fat, even if you are slim elsewhere on your frame, can put you at risk of increased health problems, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and some cancers. From a vanity standpoint, a flat belly looks better in clothes, particularly swim suits, and can help you feel more confident. If you loathe the idea of high-intensity exercise, yoga's combination of stretching, gentle strengthening, breathing and meditation may seem a far more civilized way to exercise.

Spot Reduction

Spot reduction is simply not possible. If you want a slimmer tummy, you have to lose weight all over. To lose a pound of weight, you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you consume. Although the average 150-pound person burns just 150 calories in an hour-long yoga session, yoga can help you create this deficit in other ways. Yoga may energize you so you are more physically active all day long. Yoga can also make you more aware of what you eat and how it affects your body. A study conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center that was published in 2009 found that people who practice yoga tend to be more mindful when they eat, making more healthful choices and stopping before eating to excess. Mindful eaters, the Center says, are less likely to be obese.

Restorative Yoga

Although calorie-burning physical activity has a positive effect on slimming the belly, calming restorative yoga that involves lying on the floor supported sumptuously by props may also help. A study published in a 2008 issue of "Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders" found that a regular restorative yoga practice reduced metabolic syndrome symptoms in adult men and women. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by excessive stomach fat, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and high cholesterol. Presence of this syndrome indicates you are at a greater risk of chronic disease. Stress aggravates metabolic syndrome and yoga, restorative types in particular, help mitigate stress. Any form of yoga that helps you relax can be beneficial. Stress can also interfere with proper digestion, causing you to bloat and bulge over your waist band.

Strategy

Even if you practice hours of yoga daily, if you don't combine the practice with a calorie-controlled diet filled with mostly whole, natural foods, you are unlikely to see changes in the shape and size of your tummy. Aim to eat mainly lean proteins, leafy greens and fresh fruits. Regular cardiovascular activity, such as jogging or cycling, will also help you burn calories and lose weight, which may lead to a flatter stomach.

About the Author

Andrea Cespedes is a professionally trained chef who has focused studies in nutrition. With more than 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, she coaches cycling and running and teaches Pilates and yoga. She is an American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer, RYT-200 and has degrees from Princeton and Columbia University.